Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Named Top Technician for Second Year

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jeffrey Schlecht, a technician for the Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb., was recognized as the nation's top truck technician as he was awarded grand champion for the second straight year at the Technology & Maintenance Council's (TMC) 2011 National Technician Skills Competition, TMCSuperTech2011, held Sept. 19-21 in Raleigh, N.C.

Schlecht has strong connections to the trucking industry. He is the son of a retired truck technician and the brother of a truck driver who started his career as a diesel technician. The WyoTech graduate gives credit for his technical abilities to his employer's training facility and its efforts to keep all the dealership's technicians current on both basic skills and new equipment.

Although Schlecht did not win any of the individual skill station competitions as he did last year, he consistently earned a high score for each station that netted him the top place and awards totaling more than $20,000.

Those prizes include a grand champion jacket and a trip for two to the 2012 Daytona 500, a Snap-On tool chest, a one-year subscription to Michell1's Repair-ConnectNet, a Reliance Dream shop stocked with fasteners and supplies along with a $100 credit per month for 12 months to keep it supplied, a Noregon JPRO Fleet Diagnostic Software Bundle, a $1,000 gift card from Navistar Truck, an Extech DC400 & Samplex 120 watt inverter from Purkey Electric and a Midtronics EXP-1000 HD Amp Kit.

Second-place finisher John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan, received a trip for four to the 2012 running of the Brickyard 400 from BorgWarner, a $500 gift card from Navistar Truck, an Extech DC400 from Purkey electric, and a Midtronics EXP-1000 HD Amp Kit.

Third-place finisher Michael Bogard, Ryder System, Nashville, Tenn., received a $500 gift card from Navistar Truck, a $500 tool certificate from Mac Tools and a Midtronics EXP-1000 HD Amp Kit.

Bogard also received the high score on the qualifying written test, administered to the 112 competitors vying for the 108 slots of the Hands-on Skills Challenge. It was the fourth time in the seven years of the competition that Bogard claimed the top score on the written test.

TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, created the competition through its Professional Technician Development Committee  (PTDC) to recognize and promote truck technicians. In addition to the competition, held in conjunction with the Council's 2011 Fall Meeting, technicians participated in PTDC's Technician Training Fair that included six technical sessions, each eligible for continuing education credit through the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

The top-ten competitors for TMCSuperTech2011 are:

1. Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.;
2. John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan.;
3. Michael Bogard, Ryder System, Nashville, Tenn.;
4. Jonathan Timmons, Ryder System, Miami, Fla.;
5. Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Waterloo, S.C.;
6. Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.;
7. Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.;
8. Bryan Lewis, Walmart Transportation, Amelia Court House, Va.
9. Michael Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Portland, Ore.; and
10. David Bishop, Walmart Transportation, Seligman, Mo.

Winners of the 16 work stations that made up the Hands-on Skill Challenge are:

Electrical — Jessy Frisk, The Kroger Company, Clackamas, Ore.;
Brakes — Phillip Mellor, Swift Transportation, Albuquerque, N.M.;
Engine Electrical — Aaron Tucker, NationalLease, Manchester, N.H.;
Engine Mechanical — Jose Flores, Swift Transportation, Lathrop, Calif.;
HVAC — Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Waterloo, S.C.;
Suspension — Sean Chess, Navistar Trucks, Connellsville, Pa.;
Starting & Charging — Steve Willis, FedEx Freight, Henderson, Colo.;
Trailer Alignment — John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan.;
Drivetrain — Steve Roen, Rush Peterbilt, Irving, Texas;
Tire & Wheel — Rudy Laguna, H-E-B Grocery, San Antonio, Texas;
Fifth Wheel — Mike Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight, Portland, Ore.;
PMI — Bryan Barger, Swift Transportation, Los Lunas, N.M.;
Wheel End — Robert Pyeatt, Walmart Transportation, Gravette, Ark.;
Service Information — Mike Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight, Portland, Ore.;
Repair Order — Robert McNees, Truck Centers, Saint Louis, Mo.; and
Fasteners — Charles Ralston, Travel Centers of America, Valparaiso, Ind.

All work station winners received the Noregon JPRO Fleet Diagnostic Software Bundle, a $100 gift card for Cengage Learning and a stud cleaner from CounterAct. Several work station winners received additional prizes valued at more than $1,000.

TMC is America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations. Find out more about TMC online at http://tmc.truckline.com.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It! http://www.truckline.com.

TMC Meeting Dates

Technology & Maintenance Council 2012 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition
February 20-23
Tampa Convention Center
Tampa, Fla.
http://tmc.truckline.com
703-838-1763

Technology & Maintenance Council 2012 Fall Meeting & National Technician Skills Competition
September 10-13
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pa.
http://tmc.truckline.com
703-838-1763

Technology & Maintenance Council 2013 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition
March 12-15
Nashville Music City Center
Nashville, Tenn.
http://tmc.truckline.com
703-838-1763

Note: High-Resolutions photographs are available for download at http://tmc.truckline.com.

SOURCE Technology & Maintenance Council, American Trucking Associations